Guardian Homes

Why a Guardian Home?

Guardians or Guardian families help us to ensure that all of our dogs are being raised in the healthy environment of a loving family.  If you are an experienced dog owner, you could have the opportunity of raising a Doodle Patch pup without the initial cost of a puppy.  Or, if you’re interested in bringing an adult dog into your household, being a Guardian Family could allow you to bring a dog into your home that is fully potty trained and obedience trained.

The Guardian home cares for the dog during its breeding career by making sure the dog is fully up to date on shots, worming, flea control and heartworm medication.  The dog is socialized in a healthy environment, exercised, groomed regularly, obedience trained, and kept safe at all times.  While the Guardian home does not initially own the dog, after the dog’s breeding career, the dog is spayed or neutered and then fully owned by the Guardian home.   This typically happens around 4-5 years of age for females or 6 years of age for males.

There are many benefits to being a Guardian or Guardian Home:

• A quality, hand picked puppy or mature dog at no initial cost.
• Raising a puppy to become part of your family.
• Owning a top quality dog with only the expense that owning a dog brings such as feeding high quality food, routine wellness exams and vaccinations, grooming and all the fun “accessories” that go with owning a dog!
• Knowing that your dog will be providing joy to so many others with the litter he or she will produce.
• Once the dog is retired, after being spayed or neutered, full ownership is transferred to the guardian or guardian home.
• Being part of the Doodle Patch Family!

Requirements of being a Guardian or Guardian Home:

• Have experience with owning a dog.
• A fenced yard (although there are exceptions).
• Allow the dog to live indoors.
• The ability to provide routine care for the dog such as shots, worming, wellness exams, high quality feed and supplements, and grooming appointments / brushing.
• Provide documentation for the routine medical care of the dog.
• Live within 1-2 hours of Germantown OH.
• Be able to transport the dog to and from Doodle Patch Farm for breeding within a 24-36 hour notice, and then in the case of a female, be able to return the dog to Doodle Patch Farm about a week before whelping and stay here up to 8 weeks after that before being returned to the Guardian home family.
• Keep the dog out of dog parks or other public areas until the dog is fully vaccinated at or around 4 months of age.
• Obedience train the dog so that he or she is well mannered.
• Potty and crate train the dog by six months of age.
• Communicate frequently with Doodle Patch Farm regarding progress of a puppy or success in adopting an older dog.
• Send updates, photos, and texts showing us that the dog has become part of your family and you’re enjoying your furry family member! Communicate immediately if there are any serious health conditions.
• Have no plans of moving within the next 4-5 years.

Doodle Patch Farm’s Responsibility to our Guardian Homes:

• Provide a quality, hand picked puppy or dog at no initial cost.
• Pay for all breeding expenses, genetic testing, orthopedic evaluations, and progesterone testing.
• Educate guardians and guardian homes on how to detect a heat cycle and how to care for a pregnant dog.
• Pay for spay or neutering upon retiring the dog.
• Provide lifetime support for the dog and be willing to take the dog back at any time.